Suture holder



June 18, 1968 Filed Sept. 8, 1966 c. M. SLOMCZIEWSKI SUTURE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l I l 1 I 1 I INVENTOR. CECELIA M. SLOMCZEWSKI ATTORNEY June 18, 1968 c. M. SLOMCZEWSKI 3,388,790

SUTURE HOLDER Filed Sept. 8, 1966 i 2 Sheets-Sheet FIG.5

F G. 7 INVENTOR.

CECELIA M. SLOMCZEWSKI ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,388,790 SUTURE HOLDER Cecelia M. Slomczewski, 1360 Norton St., Rochester, N31. 14621 Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,945 13 (Ilaims. (Cl. 20663.3)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A suture holder formed of a base having grooves to receive bundles of sutures with both ends of the bundles overhanging the ends of the base. A hinged cover is provided to close the grooves and a resilient retainer is provide to hold the sutures at one end to allow removal of a single suture from the other end of the holder.

This invention relates to a holder and dispenser for a supply of sutures.

Present practices in handling sutures are inefficient, clumsy, and wasteful. Often sutures for use in an operating room are laid out on towels for passing individually to a surgeon as needed, and these can easily become tangied and difficult to separate from each other. Also, such a suture supply is sometimes spilled or upset. Thus, a clear need exists for fast, efficient, and fool-proof means for holding and dispensing sutures, particularly in operating rooms.

The objects of this invention include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Overcoming the deficiencies of suture handling in the prior art;

(b) Providing a fast and fool-proof Way of separating a single suture from a supply bundle rapidly and surely for passing to a surgeon;

(c) Providing a suture supply holder and dispenser that is simple, economical, convenient, and efi'icient to operate, and able to meet operating room sterility requirements; and

(d) Providing a suture supply holder that is easy to load and set up for use and from which sutures can be identified and removed singly or in groups without mishap in the relatively poorer light outside the operating field in an operating room.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification which describes the invention, its use, operation, and preferred embodiment, from the drawings which constitute a part of the disclosure, and from the subject matter claimed.

Generally, the inventive suture holder is formed of a base having grooves for receiving bundles of sutures, and a cover arranged for closely overlying the base to close the grooves completely to form conduits in which the sutures rest with both ends of the suture bundle overhanging the holder. Resilient means is arranged for pressing the overhanging ends of the sutures against the rear end of the holder to retain all but one of the sutures in place as that one suture is pulled from the forward end of the holder. The entire holder is made of sterilizable materials, and preferably the base and cover members are hingedly connected to open in the manner of a book. Also, in one preferred embodiment, the lower surface of the cover member is provided with ridges extending part way down into the grooves in the base to securely close the grooves and to help hold the cover tightly to the base.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a preferred suture holder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partially cutaway side elevation thereof;

3,388,790 Patented June 18, 1968 'ice FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the rear end thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross section thereof;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of an alternative form of suture holder according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

Throughout the drawings, corresponding parts have been given the same reference numerals. Although the drawings illustrate two preferred embodiments of the invention, other preferred embodiments, variations, and modifications of the invention fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

The suture holder 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is formed of a base member 11 and a cover member 12 that are preferably connected along their longitudinal sides by a hinge 13 for opening and closing in the manner of a book. Base 11, cover 12, and hinge 13 are all preferably formed of rugged and durable materials that can withstand repeated sterilization. Several plastic materials meet these requirements and also allow economical molding of members 11 and 12.

Base 11 is formed with a plurality of grooves 14, and cover member 12 is shaped to close the tops of grooves 14 to form open-ended conduits extending the length of holder 10 for loosely retaining bundles of sutures. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the side walls of grooves 14 are generally vertical, and corresponding ridges 15 extend part way downward into grooves 14 when cover 12 is closed over base 11. The side walls of ridges 15 closely engage the side walls of grooves 14, and the space left between the bottoms of ridges 15 and grooves 14 forms conduits 16 for loosely retaining sutures.

Of course, other corresponding base and cover surfaces canalso provide the desired, tightly closed grooves or conduits from which sutures cannot escape except longitudinally from the open ends. For example, ridges 15 can extend the full length of holder 10 or can be intermittent and spaced along grooves 14. Generally, regardless of the particular arrangemnt of cover and grooves, it is important that grooves 14 be tightly closed, since thread-like sutures can otherwise work their way upward out of the grooves and become bound between the cover and base.

Various types and sizes of sutures exist, and they are often packed in small bundles from which it is desired to remove one suture at a time. A typical uncut suture bundle contains a number of sutures bent back upon themselves so that the ends of each suture lie together at one end of the bundle and a turned portion of each suture lies at the other end of the bundle. Such a bundle 17 having suture end portions 18 and turned suture portions 19 is illustrated as held in place by the inventive holder. Both the turned portions 19 and the suture ends 18 extend from opposite ends of holder 10 when bundle 17 is properly placed therein. Such a bundle can be cut to form single length sutures which can also be placed in holder 10 with their ends extending from each end of the holder for dispensing. Generally, holder 10 is made somewhat shorter than the overall length of the sutures to be held and dispensed therefrom.

Resilient cantilever springs 20 secured to cover 12 extend downward into resilient engagement with base 11 over the rear ends of conduits 16 when cover 12 and base 11 are closed together. Springs 20 thus slide downward over the rear end of base 11 as cover 12 is closed over base 11. Since the suture ends 18 extend beyond the rear end of holder 10, springs 20 slide down over suture ends 18 and press them tightly against base 11 to hold the sutures in place. At the forward end 22 of holder 10, the

leading ends or turned portions 19 of the sutures in bundle 17 extend outward so they can be gripped to pull one or more sutures from the bundle 17 as desired, without disturbing, dislodging, or tangling any of the other sutures in the bundle. Thus, spring 20 retains in place all but forceably removed sutures without entanglement or spilling and holds the sutures in a convenient position from which they are readily removable.

Springs 20 can be formed as fingers in a unitary spring plate as illustrated, or can be formed individually, or formed as a continuous, undivided spring plate. Also, a variety of materials are suitable for spring member 20 including stainless steel and some plastics.

To facilitate opening of holder 10, an overhanging projection affords a surface for finger gripping along the edge of cover 12 that is opposite from hinge 13. A resting block 26 is secured to the underside of base 11 adjacent the forward end 22 of holder 10 to elevate the forward end of holder it) above a horizontal surface on which a holder is rested. Preferably, holder 10 is angled upward toward its forward end 22 as shown in FIG. 2, so that the sutures are disposed at the most convenient angle and in the best light for grasping the desired suture and removing it from the holder. For further convenience, holder 10 is preferably formed of light colored or transparent material for optimum lighting and viewing of contrasting dark sutures. Holder 10 is preferably formed of material heavy enough so that it will rest securely in place against the force of withdrawing a suture; however, clamping or restraining means can be used to secure holder 10 in place, and high coefficient of friction footings can be provided for holder 10 if desired.

The cover 12 of holder 10 is preferably provided with additional suture holding means particularly adapted for holding gut sutures which tend to curl as they dry. Such suture holding means, as illustrated, comprises a pair of coil springs 30 mounted on holders 31 and disposed transversely of cover 12 and spaced apart longitudinally for holding sutures that are wedged in the slits formed between the coils of springs 20. Notched or slitted plastic or other material can be substituted for springs 30.

An alternative preferred suture holder 34 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This holder differs from holder 10 primarily in that the lower surface of cover 36 is flat, and grooves 37 in base are relatively shallow with their tops all in a plane. The sides of grooves 37 are preferably angled outward from the vertical by an acute angle, in part to facilitate the molding of base 35.

A groove 39 is preferably formed along the edge of cover 36 opposite from hinge 40 to afford a finger vgrip by which cover 36 can be raised up from base 35. A spring 41 is arranged for pressing against the rearward end of holder 34 in the same manner'as spring 20 for holder 10. The forward, upper edge of cover 36 is preferably formed with a chamfer 42 providing a surface on which the sizes of sutures in each of the grooves 37 can be marked. The sutures are then loaded into grooves 37 according to the size marking for each groove as indicated on chamfer 42 so that correct sized sutures can be quicklynoted and removed from holder 34 when needed. Footing 43 is arranged under the forward end of holder 34 to elevate the forward end of holder 34 in the same manner as resting block 26 elevates the forward end of holder 10.

Cover 36 must closely fit over grooves 37 to close them tightly and completely, and cover 36 should not be lifted upward from base 35 by the force of a suture being withdrawn from holder 34. Such a tight closure of cover 36 over base 35 is accomplished by a combination of the gripping force of spring 41, and the weight of cover 36. For this purpose, cover 36 is preferably formed of relatively heavy material such as a solid plastic. If desired, a fastener can be added to holder 34 for clamping cover 36 down squarely and tightly on the base 35.

It will thus be seen that the inventive holder keeps a bundle of sutures securely in place within a conduit and allows single suture removal without any tangling. With such a holder, sutures can be handled conveniently and efliciently without waste or accident. Also, the inventive holder is a simple and economical structure that can be molded of plastic materials able to withstand repeated sterilization, or cheap enough to be disposed of after each use.

Other features, advantages, and other specific embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those exercising ordinary skill in the pertinent art after considering the foregoing disclosure. In this regard, While specific preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, such disclosure is intended as illustrative, rather than limiting, and other embodiments, variations, and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed.

I claim:

1. A suture holder comprising:

(a) a base member having an upper surface formed to define a groove having upper edges terminating in a plane, said groove being dimensioned for receiving a bundle of said sutures, and said base member being shorter than said bundle so that portions of said sutures overhang each end of said base member;

(b) a cover member arranged for removably over- 1 lying said base member in registry therewith, the lower surface of said cover member being formed to fit closely to said upper edges of said groove to close the top of said groove completely and form an open-ended conduit for loosely retaining said sutures; and

(c) resilient means carried by said cover member for pressing said overhanging ends of said sutures against the rear end of said base member to retain in place all but one of said sutures in said bundle while said one suture is pulled from the forward end of said holder.

2. The suture holder of claim 1 wherein said lower surface of said cover member is formed to define a ridge closely fitting the sides of said groove and extending part way down into said groove.

3. The suture holder of claiml including hinge means for connecting said cover member and said base member.

4. The suture holder of claim 3 wherein said cover member is formed to define a surface opposite said hinge means and affording a finger hold for separating said cover member from said base member.

5. The suture holder of claim 2 wherein said upper surface of said base member is formed to define a plurality of said grooves, and the lower surface of said cover member is formed to define a corresponding plurality of said ridges.

6. The suture holder of claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises cantilever spring means extending downward from said cover member over the end of said groove in said base member.

7. The suture holder of claim 1 including a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, resilient, members secured to the upper surface of said cover member and formedto define slits in which additional sutures can be wedged and held.

8. The suture holder of claim 1 including means secured to the underside of said base member adjacent the forward end thereof for elevating said forward end of said holder above a horizontal supporting surface for said holder.

9. The suture holder of claim 2 including hinge means for connecting said cover member and said base member, wherein said upper surface of said base member is formed to define a plurality of said grooves and the lower surface of said cover member is formed to define a corresponding plurality of said ridges, and wherein said resillent means comprise cantilever spring means extending downward from said cover member over the ends of each of said grooves in said base member.

10. The suture holder of claim 9 wherein said cover member is formed to define a surface opposite said hinge means and aiTording a finger hold for separating said cover member from said base member, and including means secured to the underside of said base member adjacent the forward end thereof for elevating said forward end of said holder above a horizontal supporting surface for said holder, and a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, resilient, members secured to the upper surface of said cover member and formed to define slits in which additional sutures can be wedged and held.

11. The suture holder of claim 1 wherein said upper surface of said base member is formed to define a plurality of said grooves said upper edges of which all terminate in said plane and the lower surface of said cover member is arranged to lie in said plane when said cover member is closed over said base member.

12. The suture holder of claim 11 including hinge means for connecting said cover member and said base member and a surface on said cover member opposite said hinge means and affording a finger hold for separating said cover member from said base member.

13. The suture holder of claim 12 wherein the forward upper edge of said cover member is formed to define a charnfer on which sizes for sutures in said grooves are indicated and including means secured to the underside of said base member adjacent the forward end thereof for elevating said forward end of said holder above a horizontal supporting surface for said holder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,943 6/ 1894- Stiefelhagen. 1,934,748 11/1933 Swanberg 43--57.5 2,176,452 10/1939 Choifel 206-633 2,188,987 2/ 1940 Strom 43-575 2,583,043 1/ 1952 Dean 206-633 2,588,589 3/1952 Tauber. 2,724,208 11/ 1955 Nelson 43-575 3,033,156 5/1962 Verbish.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

